Achi news desk-
Head coach Rick Tocchet wanted to get his star goalkeeper plenty of work as he returned from injury.
Or at least that’s what he told reporters after Thatcher Demko backed the Vancouver Canucks to a decisive 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
“I thought he played great,” Tocchet said after Demko stopped 39 shots in his first game since March 9. “That’s the plan to let him get a lot of work tonight.”
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) stops Calgary Flames’ Martin Pospisil, front left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The coach waited a beat, surveying the assembled faces before him, then smiled.
“I was joking,” he said. “Like nobody’s laughing at that one? I thought it was pretty funny.”
There was a lightness around the Canucks Tuesday as Vancouver (50-22-9) not only beat the Flames (37-29-5), but captured the Pacific Division title in the process. This is the first time Vancouver has won its division since 2013.
The Canucks are still chasing the Stars for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference, but need a win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday and a Dallas loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday to accomplish the feat.
Tuesday marked the third time in franchise history that the Canucks had a 50-win season.
“It’s a testament to the work we’ve been able to do this year. I don’t think anyone is satisfied though,” Demko said. “So one more game here on the road, and then the games are really fun next week. So excited to get ready for that.”
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Demko has been key to Vancouver’s success this season and was back on Tuesday after missing 14 games with a knee injury.
“He’s one of the best in the league and it’s different to have him,” said Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. “As I’ve said, (Casey DeSmith’s) been great for us and the same with (Arturs Silovs), but having Demmer back there, it’s a whole new thing.”
The Canucks got a goal and an assist from Tyler Myers, while Nils Hoglander, Dakota Joshua and JT Miller also scored.
Brayden Pachal responded for the Flames midway through the third period and Jacob Markstrom stopped 27 of 31 shots.
Flames coach Ryan Huska was pleased with his team’s effort, despite the result.
“Not the results but the effort was there for us for the full 60 minutes,” he said. “We made three mistakes coming back in our own zone off the rush, we lost people, and then one turnover but other than those mistakes, I liked what we did tonight.”
Miller sent a shot past Markstrom 15:02 into the third to make it 4-1 with his 37th goal of the season.
Marker extended Miller’s point streak to 11 games, with four goals and 10 assists over the stretch.
Congratulations to “JT Mill-er!” rang throughout Rogers Arena after he scored.
Pachal beat Demko on Calgary’s 33rd shot of the night, sending the puck sailing through traffic and into the top corner of the net. The goal — Pachal’s second of the season and first with the Flames — cut Calgary’s deficit to 3-1 at the 8:35 mark of the third period.
“Yeah, it definitely feels good,” he said of the tally. “Obviously, you’d like it to come back a little bit, but we fell a little bit short. It still feels good, but it would have felt a lot sweeter with the win.”
Tempers flared midway through the second when Hoglander punched Pachal in the chest and Pachal snapped his head back in response.
A scrum erupted in front of the benches, including a skirmish between Vancouver’s Conor Garland – who stands five foot eight – and Calgary’s Adam Klapka – who is listed at six foot eight – in which Garland was almost thrown to the Flames bench.
Garland and Klapka were both ejected for the roughing, and Hoglander was sent to the box for a cross-check.
Demko made one of his best saves of the night on the ensuing penalty kill, robbing Nazem Kadri tight, then dropping and rolling onto his back to smother the rebound.
“I felt pretty good. Definitely some things I want to clean up,” Demko said of his performance Tuesday. “But I think the important thing is to come back, see some game action. And obviously, to get the win was great … and to win the division was great.”
Up next
Canucks: Finish the regular season Thursday by visiting the Winnipeg Jets.
Flames: Host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
